Predator size affects the intensity of mutual interference in a predatory mirid

Interference competition occurs when access to an available resource is negatively affected by interactions with other individuals, where mutual interference involves individuals of the same species. The interactive phenomena among individuals may be size-dependent, since body size is a major factor that may alter prey consumption rates and ultimately the dynamics and structure of food webs. A study was initiated in order to evaluate the effect of mutual interference in the prey-specific attack rates and handling times of same size class predators, incorporating variation in consumer size. For this purpose, laboratory functional response experiments were conducted using same age predators, i.e. newly hatched (first instar) or mature (fifth instar) nymphs of the polyphagous mirid predator Macrolophus pygmaeus preying on Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eggs. The experiments involved four predator density treatments, i.e. one, two, three or four predators of same age, i.e. eit...干扰竞争 (interference competition) 指个体获取可用资源的能力会因与其他个体的互动而受到负面影响，其中同种个体间的相互干扰即属此类竞争。个体间的互动现象可能存在体型依赖性，因为体型是影响猎物取食速率、并最终改变食物网动态与结构的关键因素之一。本研究旨在评估同种体型类群捕食者的猎物特异性攻击率与处理时间受相互干扰的影响，并纳入捕食者体型的变异因素。为此，本研究开展了实验室功能响应实验，实验对象为同一龄期的捕食者：即多食性盲蝽科捕食天敌Macrolophus pygmaeus的初孵若虫（1龄若虫）或成熟若虫（5龄若虫），其猎物为地中海粉螟 (Ephestia kuehniella，鳞翅目：螟蛾科) 的卵。实验设置了四种捕食者密度处理，即1头、2头、3头或4头同一龄期的捕食者，即……